Rocker arm prism display

ABSTRACT

A display device in which one or more prisms are moved between at least two fixed positions. Each prism has an image surface, an object surface and a reflecting surface and there is indicia placed adjacent the path defined by movement of each object surface. The indicia is visible at an image surface in only one position of the prism.

United States Patent Ruppert [54] ROCKER ARM PRISM DISPLAY [72]Inventor: Albert L. Ruppert, Middleton, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Oak Electro/Netlcs Corp., Crystal Lake,

Ill. 1

22 Filed: May 19,1969

21 Appl. 110.: 825,897

Related u.s. Application um [63] Continuation-in-partof Ser. No.747,717, July 25,

1968, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. [51] Int. Cl. [58] Field oi'Search ..40/6l, 62, 130 K, 130B, 137,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,088,897 3/1914 Gyr .1..350/1'12 [151 3,653,136 14 1 Apr. 4, 1972 2,607,873 8/ 1952 Sheidler..200/ l 67 2,616,941 11/1952 Lasko ..350/1l2 3,237,331 3/1966 Gill..40/62 X F QREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 676,448 2/1966 Belgium ..40/336 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J.Contreras Attorney-Parker, Carter & Markey [57] I ABSTRACT A displaydevice in which one or more prisms are moved between at least two fixedpositions. Each prism has an image surface, an object surface and areflecting surface and there is indicia placed adjacent the path definedby movement of each object surface. The indicia is visible at an imagesurface in only one position of the prism.

l 1 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAPR 41972 3,653,136 SHEET10F2 VIZ. Fun/r warm/4M fl/i/fig/ I iffy/Mm ROCKER ARM PRISM DISPLAY Thepresent invention relates to prism display devices and is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 747,7 I 7,filed July 25, 1968, now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary purpose of the present invention is adisplay device in which one or more prisms may be oscillated back andforth between two positions to display indicia positioned adjacent theobject face of the prism, with the display indicating the condition of aswitch or instrument.

Another purpose is a display device of the type described in which asingle prism may be utilized to reflect indicia to an image surface,with the prism being movable between two positions, only one of whichplaces the object surface of the prism adjacent the indicia.

Another purpose is a prism display device in which the prism may berocked between at least two fixed positions.

Another purpose is a prism display device utilizing a plurality ofprisms, each of which may be moved or rocked between at least two fixedpositions.

Another purpose is a prism display device which may be oscillatedbetween at least two positions, in one of which indicia positionedadjacent the object face of the prism will be reflected to the imageface.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrateddiagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a prism display device of the typedescribed,

FIG. 2 is a section along plane 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a second form of prism display device,

FIG. 4 is a section along plane 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a further form of device,

FIG. 6 is a section along plane 6-6 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a section along plane 77 of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of yet a further form of prism display device,and

FIG. 9 is a section along plane 9-9 ofFIG. 8.

DE SCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1 and 2, a housing isindicated generally at 10 and may be in the shape of a rectangular box,with an open top and outwardly extending flanges 12 and 14. Covering theopen top of the box 10 and mounted on the flanges l2 and I4 is a cover16 having an opening indicated at 18.

Positioned within the box 10 is a reflecting prism indicated generallyat 20 and including a reflecting surface 22, an image surface 24 and agenerally curved object surface 26. One position of the prism 20 isindicated in full lines in FIG. 2 and the second position is indicatedin broken lines. The prism 20 is effective to display any indicia orobject positioned adjacent or at the object surface 26 to the imagesurface 24. The reflecting surface 22 may merely be a highly polishedsurface, or it may be suitably mirrorized, for example by a vacuumdeposit of aluminum. In this connection, the prism 20 must be formed ofa suitably transparent or translucent material. Both glass and types ofplastic, for example lucite, acrylic, styrene or the like, have beenfound to be satisfactory.

Integral with the prism 20 is an L-shaped section 30, which may bemounted on a pin 32 journaled in opposite sides of the box 10. A portionof the box 10, indicated at 34, may be bent inward so as to provide alock or spring to hold the prism in one of its fixed positions.

Suitable indicia, indicated at 36, is attached to a wall 38 of the box10 and is positioned adjacent the path defined by movement of the objectface. In the full line position of FIG. 2 the indicia 36 will bereflected, in the path of arrow 40 to the prism display image face. Itshould be understood that I have ignored refraction in going from air tothe material of the prism 20, as generally the angles of refraction canbe controlled by material selection and the angular relationship betweenobject and reflecting surfaces. The indicia or object 36, which may beboth a combination of letters, for example the word off", as well as acolor or a graphic design, may be reflected through the object surface26 to reflecting surface 22 and then to the image face or surface 24.Thus in the full line position of the prism 20, the word Off or someother suitable alpha-numeric information or graphic design is displayedat the image face of prism.

By pressing downward on the L-shaped section 30, the resistance of thespring 34 will be overcome and the prism will move to the broken lineposition of FIG. 2. Note that in this position the indicia 36 is nolonger adjacent the object face, and therefore only ambient light willbe reflected to the image face of the prism. In effect, the device ofFIG. I is a two-posi' tion display or position indicator, which may besuitably attached to a switch or other instrument. In one position,alphanumeric information is displayed, whereas in the second position itis not. The prism oscillates or rocks or moves about the axis of the pin32, which axis is parallel to the object surface, the image surface andto the reflecting surface,

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second form of rocker type of prism reflectingdevice. A box 42, similar to the box 10, may have a flange 44 whichextends peripherally around it. A suitable cover may be added, as inFIG. 2, if desired. Positioned within the box 42 are a pair ofreflecting prisms 46 and 48. Each of these prisms have reflectingsurfaces 50 and 52, image surfaces 54 and 56, and object surfaces 58 and60. The prisms are shaped generally as shown in FIG. 2, and they areintegral or molded into a single part or body. lndicia indicated at 62and 64 is positioned adjacent the paths defined by movement of theobject surfaces 58 and 60. A pin 66, journaled in opposite sides of thebox 42, may provide the axis for rotation of the prisms. Extendingdownwardly from the center of the body is a lock 68 which is effectiveto hold the prisms in one of two fixed positions.

In the position of FIG. 4, the indicia 64 will be reflected, asindicated by arrow. 70, to the image face 56. In a second position, whenprism 46 is down and prism 48 is up, the indicia 62 will be reflected byreflecting surface 50 to the image face or surface 54. Thus the twoprisms, combined into a single integral part, have two positions. In oneposition one set of indicia, which again may contain alpha-numericinformation as well as a color indication, may be displayed, whereas, inthe second position the other set of indicia is displayed. The rockettype of display shown may be suitably connected to a switch or someother instrument so as to indicate both the condition of the switch orinstrument, and also to serve as the means for operating the switch orinstrument. Thus, not only does the invention relate to a displaydevice, but also to a means for operating an instrument or switch.

Note that the axis defined by the pin 66 is parallel to both reflectingsurfaces, both object surfaces and both image surfaces. The indicia 62and 64 is positioned adjacent the paths defined by movement of the twoobject surfaces. As shown, the object surfaces are generally curved,although obviously this is not necessary and they may be flat.

The invention, as shown in the drawings, includes both a double prismand a single prism. Obviously, the invention is equally applicable tofurther multiples of prisms. For example, there are four-way rockers inwhich the prism principle disclosed herein can be utilized. There arealso three-way rocker switches which could similarly use the prismprinciple to both simultaneously display an indication of a switch orinstrument and to operate the same. What is important in the inventionis that there is a display device which has at least two positions andin only one of which will there be indicia displayed by the prism. Inthis connection the invention should not be limited to a two-positiondevice. In display devices with more than two prisms, each prism may bemovable between more than two fixed positions.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a further form of prism display device inwhich the object surface moves in a path generally perpendicular to theaxis about which the prism moves. A housing 80 may have an outwardlydirected flange 82 and may mount a pin 84 which serves as the axis formovement of the prism display device. Positioned within the housing 80is a prism member 86 which may be made up of four separate prisms. Atthe right are reflecting surfaces 88 and 90. There is a common imagesurface 92 and object surfaces 94 and 96. Positioned adjacent the objectsurfaces 94 and 96 are suitable indicia 98 and 100. In the positionshown in FIG. 6, the righthand prisms are above the indicia 98 and 100and so the information on this indicia is not displayed at the imagesurface 92.

At the left-hand side there are reflecting surfaces 102 and 104, acommon image surface 106 and object surfaces 108 and 110. Again, thereis indicia 112 and 114 which is displayed at the image surface 106.Although not shown, there may be a suitable spring or lock to hold themember 86 in one of its two fixed positions.

The principal difference between the structures shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and7 and the prism display devices of FIGS. 1-4, is

' that situation where the reflecting surfaces do not come to a full Vas illustrated particularly in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a combination of the prism display devices of FIGS.1-4 and FIGS. 5-7. A box or housing 116 may have an outwardly directedflange 118 and may mount a pin 120. A prism member 122 may be positionedwithin the housing 116 for rocking movement between two fixed positions.Again, there may be a suitable spring or lock to hold the prism memberin either fixed position. At the right, there is a common image face 124and at the left there is a second common image face 126. Only theright-hand side of the prism member 122 will be described in detail,since the left-hand side is a duplicate. There are reflecting surfaces128 and 130 which cooperate with object surfaces 132 and 134 to displayinformation on indicia tapes 136 and 138 to the common image surface124. As was the case in FIGS. 5-7, the reflecting surfaces 128 and 130may have a common edge or at least adjacent edges. In addition, there isa further prism having a reflecting surface 140 and an object surface142 positioned to move in a path adjacent indicia 144. It should benoted that this portion of the prism member 122 is arranged similar tothe structures shown in FIGS. 14.

Movement of the prism member 122 between one of its two fixed positionschanges the display and in this case there can be three differentindicia displayed in either position. There may an on-off indication,for example, from the end indicia 144 and there may be color or graphicdesigns displayed from the side indicia 136 and 138. As was true withthe other forms of the invention, the prism may be made of a suitableplastic material, either transparent or translucent, and the reflectingsurfaces may be suitably mirrorized to'provide a high degree ofreflection.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and describedherein, it should be realized that there are many modifications,substitutions and alterations thereto within the scope of the followingclaims.

Iclaim:

the path defined by movement of said object surface, said indicia beingreflected to said image surface in one position of said prism, and meansholding said prism in one of said stationary positions including aspring member integral with an extending outwardly from said housing andinto contact with said prism.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including a pincarried by said housing, with said pin defining the axis of movement ofthe prism.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said objectsurface is curved, with said image surface being generally in a singleplane.

4. A display device including a plurality of integral prisms, eachhaving a reflecting surface, an object surface and an image surface, ahousing at least partially enclosing said prisms, each of said prismsbeing movable about a common axis generally parallel to the objectsurfaces between at least two positions, indicia positioned adjacenteach path defined by movement of each object surface, each indicia beingreflected to its image surface in only one position of each prism, andmeans for holding said integral prisms in one of said positionsincluding a pin-like member extending away from said common axis andbearing against said housing.

5. The structure of claim 4 further characterized in that said imagesurfaces are joined together. I

6. A display device including a prism member having a reflectingsurface, an object surface and an image surface, said prism beingmovable about an axis generally perpendicular to said object surfacebetween at least two stationary positions, indicia positioned adjacentthe path defined by movement of said object surface, said indicia beingreflected to said image surface in one position of said prism. I I

7. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that said prismmember includes a pair of reflecting surfaces, and a pair of objectsurfaces, there being indicia positioned adjacent the path defined bymovement of each object surface.

8. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that said prismmember includes a plurality of prisms, each having a reflecting surface,an object surface and an image surface, each prism being movable aboutan axis generally perpendicular to its object surface between at leasttwo stationary positions, there being indicia positioned adjacent thepath defined by movement of each object surface, with the indicia beingreflected to the image surface in only one position of each prism.

9. The structure of claim 8 further characterized in that said pluralityof prisms includes at least one prism having an object surface parallelto the axis of movement of said prism member. 7

10. The structure of claim 6 further characterized by and including asecond prism having a reflecting surface, an object surface and an imagesurface, said second prism being movable with said first prism, with theobject surface of the second prism being generally perpendicular to theobject surface of the first prism.

11. The structure of claim 10 further characterized in that said prismshave a common image surface, and indicia positioned adjacent the pathdefined by movement of the second object surface, said last-namedindicia being reflected to the common image surface in one position ofsaid prisms.

1. A display device including a prism having a reflecting surface, anobject surface and an image surface, a housing at least partiallyenclosing said prism, said prism being movable about an axis, generallyparallel with said image and reflecting surfaces, between at least twostationary positions, indicia attached to a portion of said housing andpositioned adjacent the path defined by movement of said object surface,said indicia being reflected to said image surface in one position ofsaid prism, and means holding said prism in one of said stationarypositions including a spring member integral with an extending outwardlyfrom said housing and into contact with said prism.
 2. The structure ofclaim 1 further characterized by and including a pin carried by saidhousing, with said pin defining the axis of movement of the prism. 3.The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said objectsurface is curved, with said image surface being generally in a singleplane.
 4. A display device including a plurality of integral prisms,each having a reflecting surface, an object surface and an imagesurface, a housing at least partially enclosing said prisms, each ofsaid prisms being movable about a common axis generally parallel to theobject surfaces between at least two positions, indicia positionedadjacent each path defined by movement of each object surface, eachindicia being reflected to its image surface in only one position ofeach prism, and means for holding said integral prisms in one of saidpositions including a pin-like member extending away from said commonaxis and bearing against said housing.
 5. The structure of claim 4further characterized in that said image surfaces are joined together.6. A display device including a prism member having a reflectingsurface, an object surface and an image surface, said prism beingmovable about an axis generally perpendicular to said object surfacebetween at least two stationary positions, indicia positioned adjacentthe path defined by movement of said object surface, said indicia beingreflected to said image surface in one position of said prism.
 7. Thestructure of claim 6 further characterized in that said prism memberincludes a pair of reflecting surfaces, and a pair of object surfaces,there being indicia positioned adjacent the path defined by movement ofeach object surface.
 8. The structure of claim 6 further characterizedin that said prism member includes a plurality of prisms, each having areflecting surface, an object surface and an image surface, each prismbeing movable about an axis generally perpendicular to its objectsurface between at least two stationary positions, there being indiciapositioned adjacent the path defined by movement of each object surface,with the indicia being reflected to the image surface in only oneposition of each prism.
 9. The structure of claim 8 furthercharacterized in that said plurality of prisms includes at least oneprism having an object surface paraLlel to the axis of movement of saidprism member.
 10. The structure of claim 6 further characterized by andincluding a second prism having a reflecting surface, an object surfaceand an image surface, said second prism being movable with said firstprism, with the object surface of the second prism being generallyperpendicular to the object surface of the first prism.
 11. Thestructure of claim 10 further characterized in that said prisms have acommon image surface, and indicia positioned adjacent the path definedby movement of the second object surface, said last-named indicia beingreflected to the common image surface in one position of said prisms.